Method and apparatus for providing logical combination of N alpha operations within a graphics system

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-06-13
NINTENDO CO LTD
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]The combination of alpha compares and alpha logical operations can be used for a wide range of additional alpha-based effects. For example, dual alpha comparisons can be used to provide non-ph

Problems solved by technology

Because computer graphics generation is complex, computer-generated three-dimensional graphics just a few years ago were mostly limited to expensive specialized flight simulators, high-end graphics workstations and supercomputers.
The public saw some of the images generated by these computer systems in movies and expensive television advertisements, but most of us couldn't actually interact with the computers doing the graphics generation.
An issue th

Method used

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  • Method and apparatus for providing logical combination of N alpha operations within a graphics system
  • Method and apparatus for providing logical combination of N alpha operations within a graphics system
  • Method and apparatus for providing logical combination of N alpha operations within a graphics system

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example graphics

Pipeline

[0061]FIG. 4 shows a more detailed view of an example 3D graphics processor 154. 3D graphics processor 154 includes, among other things, a command processor 200 and a 3D graphics pipeline 180. Main processor 110 communicates streams of data (e.g., graphics command streams and display lists) to command processor 200. Main processor 110 has a two-level cache 115 to minimize memory latency, and also has a write-gathering buffer 111 for uncached data streams targeted for the graphics and audio processor 114. The write-gathering buffer 111 collects partial cache lines into full cache lines and sends the data out to the graphics and audio processor 114 one cache line at a time for maximum bus usage.

[0062]Command processor 200 receives display commands from main processor 110 and parses them—obtaining any additional data necessary to process them from shared memory 112. The command processor 200 provides a stream of vertex commands to graphics pipeline 180 for 2D and / or 3D processi...

example cartoon

Outlining Technique

[0102]FIGS. 13 and 14 show that it may be desirable to apply border lines or outlines to cartoon characters. The FIG. 13 example cartoon character 1300 has border lines applied to silhouette edge(s) 1302. The outlining applied to silhouette edges 1302 provide a “cartoon outlining” effect that increases the clarity of the image and simulates hand-drawn cartoon or comic book type images.

[0103]FIG. 13 shows this cartoon character 1300 as also having a right hand, wrist, and portion of forearm being held in front of the character. A cartoon artist would apply border lines also to edges surrounding the right hand, wrist and forearm portion—even though in the particular character position shown, these are internal edges rather than silhouette edges. FIG. 13 illustrates that portions of the cartoon character 1300 may disappear or become less distinct if cartoon outlining is applied only to silhouette edge(s) 1302 of the character—whereas the viewer would (from experience...

example

[0124]The following shows an example set of application programming interface calls that can be used to control system 50 to perform cartoon outlining:

[0125]

FunctionParametersDescriptionGXSetTexCopySrcxOrig, yOrig,0, 0, SCREEN_WD,width, heightSCREEN_HTGXCopyTexcopy bufferreferred byGXLoadTexObjPreLoadedtexture formatGX_TF_IA8mipmap filterGX_DISABLEclear on copyGX_DISABLEGXLoadTexObjPreLoadedtexture map IDGX_TEXMAP0texture objectdefined byptrGXInitTexObj / TexObjLODtexture regiondefined byptrGXInitTexRegionGXInitTexObjtexture objectfor outputptrpointer foroutputted by GXCopyTexbitmapwidthSCREEN_WDheightSCREEN_HTtexture formatGX_TF_IA8clamp_s,GX_CLAMP,clamp_tGX_CLAMPmipmap enableGX_DISABLEGXInitTexObjLODtexture objectsame as GXInitTexObj'sptrmin_filterGX_NEARESTmax_filterGX_NEARESTmin_lod,0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f (don't care)max_lod,lod_biasbias_clamp,GX_DISABLE, GX-do_edge_lodDISABLE (don't care)max_anisoGX_ANISO_1(don't care)GXInitTexPreloadRegiontexture_regionfor outputtmem_even0size_even0 (...

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PUM

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Abstract

A graphics system including a custom graphics and audio processor produces exciting 2D and 3D graphics and surround sound. The system includes a graphics and audio processor including a 3D graphics pipeline and an audio digital signal processor. Logical combination of N alpha compares can be used to provide a wide range of imaging effects including but not limited to cartoon outlining.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60 / 226,915 and 60 / 226,888 filed Aug. 23, 2000, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. This application is related to concurrently-filed application Ser. No. 09 / 722,367 of Drebin et al entitled “Recirculating Shade Tree Blender For a Graphics System”.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to computer graphics, and more particularly to interactive graphics systems such as home video game platforms. Still more particularly, this invention relates to the use of logical combination of N alpha channel operations to generate interesting visual graphics effects including but not limited to non-photorealistic images such as cartoon outlining.BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION[0003]Many of us have seen films containing remarkably realistic dinosaurs, aliens, animated toys and other fanciful creatures. Such animations are made...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): G09G5/02
CPCG06T15/503G06T15/02
Inventor LAW, PATRICK Y.YASUMOTO, YOSHITAKA
Owner NINTENDO CO LTD
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